Back to Tang Dynasty to be Emperor

With the four-day competition and publicity, New Cuju has a good reputation in Chang'an, and it is quite popular with the public. The degree of liking has reached the point where there are Cuju wherever there are people.Moreover, it has completely replaced the old-style Cuju and has become an entertainment item for the people of the Tang Dynasty.Whether it is the poor living in Chang'an City, rich businessmen, or high-ranking officials, all of them formed teams one after another because of Li Shimin's favor for Cuju, and he also participated in it.

To receive such an effect, Li Ke felt happy for a while, and his heart that had been tense for many days was slightly relieved.

And Xu Jingzong, another talent sent to him by Li Shimin, also reported to the Han Palace on time, and then planned the Chang'an City Competition with Ma Zhou and the others.

Li Ke, Xu Jingzong's man, was no stranger to him. On the contrary, he valued him quite a lot, not for anything else, because he was one of the people who brought down the old man, Changsun Wuji, during the years of Emperor Gaozong and Li Zhi.His name is Yanzu, from Hangzhou Xincheng.There are few literary names. In the great cause of the Sui Dynasty, he was selected as a scholar and was awarded the judicial secretary of Huaiyang County.After his father Xu Shanxin was killed by Yu Wenhuaji, Xu Jingzong joined Li Miwagang Uprising Army and served as the secretary of the Marshal's Mansion.The Wagang Army surrendered to Tang after its defeat.Later Tang Taizong heard of his name and called him a Bachelor of Literature.In 634 A.D. (the eighth year of Zhenguan), he was eliminated as a scholar, and he also studied national history, and soon changed to Zhongshu Sheren.

Looking at Xu Jingzong's promotion during the Zhenguan period, although he was talented, it was not smooth.Therefore, Li Ke felt that since Li Shimin assigned him to him, he had to make good use of such a talent.Therefore, as soon as Xu Jingzong came to the Hanwang Mansion, Li Ke appointed him to be in charge of the review of the teams in the Cuju Division and the division of games. It can be said that he has real power.

Xu Jingzong was very grateful for Li Ke's trust, and secretly made up his mind to run the Cuju competition well with everyone.

After Li Ke finished dealing with Xu Jingzong's matter, it was already afternoon, he stretched his waist, and said to himself: "Next, it's time to go to the palace to pay respects to the emperor and concubine mother, and to inquire about the formation of a new army by the way. "

When Li Ke came to the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin was revising the memorial before the case. After Wang Detong passed it on, Li Ke stepped into the hall and said to Li Shimin: "My son, please refer to the emperor."

Li Shimin looked up and saw that it was Li Ke, and said kindly: "Oh, it's Ke'er, get up!" Then he said: "Your new Cuju method is popularized very well, let alone in the streets and alleys of Chang'an City, Among the gentry, everyone in the palace already knows everyone."

Li Ke said modestly: "This is all the credit of the father, and the ministers dare not take the credit. If the father hadn't visited the competition, and let the eldest brother, the fourth brother, and the sixteen guards learn Cuju, the new Cuju would not have achieved such impressive results. Satisfactory result."

Li Shimin said with a smile: "Don't be humble here, the Chang'an rehearsal game can be completed within a few days, and the promotion of Cuju to the point where everyone in Chang'an knows it is mainly due to your own ability. , I am very pleased for you." Then he changed the subject and asked, "I just wonder if you have been concentrating on Cuju for the past few days, have you missed your homework?"

Li Ke felt nervous, and didn't know what questions Li Shimin wanted to test him, so he said cautiously: "I practice sword and writing every day, and calligraphy and painting have not failed."

Li Shimin nodded and said: "That's good. After all, cuju is a small way, and governing the country is the great way. But from your creation of a new way of cuju and the success of your practice competition, it can be seen that you have grown up a lot and started to learn culture. As before, you just focus on wielding guns and clubs, and my father is very happy to see that you can understand these principles."

Seeing the sincerity of Li Shimin's words, Li Ke knew that this was his concern for himself and his father's expectation for a son. Li Ke's eye sockets became hot, and a sense of father-son affection arose spontaneously. According to the teachings of the emperor, from now on, my sons and ministers must study literature and martial arts with all their heart, and will not let the emperor worry and disappoint him again."

Seeing that Li Ke suddenly understood a lot and matured a lot, he was no longer the Li Ke who had resentment in his heart, Li Shimin had a smile on his face.At this time, Wang De reported at the door: "Your Majesty, Lord Feng outside the door, Lord Xiao, Lord Changsun, Lord Fang, Lord Du, Lord Wei, and Lord Gao are waiting to see you."

"Let them in!" Li Shimin said.

Li Ke really wanted to know about the joint names of these bigwigs from the DPRK and China, but he didn't know what major issues they were discussing.However, he really didn't want to meet with Changsun Wuji and let him see through him, so he said wisely: "My son will leave first."

Li Shimin was in a good mood, he waved his hand and said: "You don't have to go, just listen to the political affairs here, and I will take the exam with you."

As soon as the words fell, Feng Deyi, Xiao, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, and Gao Shilian walked in under the leadership of Wang De. After saluting Li Shimin, Li Shimin offered them seats. Next, everyone thanked Li Shimin and sat on the chair next to him one by one. Li Ke stepped forward to salute everyone one by one, and everyone returned the salute graciously.

Li Shimin glanced over everyone's faces, and said: "Everyone, please tell me what you want."

Changsun Wuji first said: "My Majesty, the Sui system has been used since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, now there are many local officials, the management is chaotic, and the officials are disorganized. The ministers and others asked the emperor to re-divide the prefectures and counties, appoint officials, and reduce the burden on the court. burden, sue the local officials."

After hearing this, Li Shimin thought for a moment and said: "The shop machine is right. It is indeed time to rectify the bureaucracy. I don't know what good strategies all the lovers have?"

Feng Deyi saw that Changsun Wuji relied on Li Shimin's favor to speak in front of him, so he said without hesitation: "The veteran thinks that it is too early to re-divide the states and counties. Let the official department thoroughly investigate and assess the officials. Righteous way." It seems to have become a habit, as long as Changsun Wuji raises a question, he always likes to refute, not to mention that Changsun Wuji rushed to speak in front of him just now, and did not take him as a prime minister seriously.

Li Shimin was very dissatisfied with Feng Deyi's actions, but because he was a veteran of the court and the leader of the literati in the world, although he was unhappy, he didn't show it. It was just that when Feng Deyi said this sentence, his expression was not good. nice.

Changsun Wuji disliked Feng Deyi's relying on the old to sell the old the most, and asked: "If you don't divide the prefectures and counties, how can you eliminate the officials and rectify the administration of officials?"

Feng Deyi immediately retorted: "The responsibility of the Ministry of Officials is to assess, appoint and dismiss officials. Now that there are many officials in the Tang Dynasty, and the government is corrupt, the Ministry of Officials may be to blame for it?"

Changsun Wuji sarcastically said, "Don't tell me you are not responsible for shooting as the right servant of Shang Shusheng?"

When Feng Deyi heard this, he was so angry that he couldn't speak for a long time.Xiao was also very angry when he heard Changsun Wuji's ridicule of Feng Deyi. Didn't Changsun Wuji scold him for his poor management?Just as he was about to refute Changsun Wuji, Li Shimin suddenly said: "What are you two arguing about? I am asking you how to solve this matter, not who is at fault?"

The two said at the same time: "This humble minister is abrupt, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Li Shimin ignored the two, and asked Li Ke who was staying aside, "What can you do?"

Li Ke knew that he would ask him a long time ago, but he didn't expect that he would be the first to speak. He couldn't help but feel a little frightened. It doesn't matter if he said something wrong.However, it won't work if Li Shimin is not satisfied.So I had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "If the provinces and counties of the whole country are combined, the whole country is divided into ten roads, namely Guannei Road, Henan Road, Hedong Road, Hebei Road, Shannan Road, Longyou Road, Huainan Road, Jiangnan Road, Jian South Road, Lingnan Road. Then, the abolished counties became states, and each state governed several states."

Li Shimin's eyes lit up, and he said: "It's a good idea. This way, not only will the problem of numerous bureaucrats be reduced, but it will also just clean up the bureaucracy and save financial expenditure."

Just as Li Shimin finished speaking, Fang Xuanling said in a timely manner: "His Royal Highness is right, I think this method is feasible."

Li Shimin asked Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng again, and they felt that Li Ke's suggestion was very good and should be adopted.Then, Li Shimin asked Changsun Wuji again: "Puji, what do you think?"

Changsun Wuji didn't expect such a good plan to come out of Li Ke's mind, and while jealous, he didn't dare to despise him any more.But at this moment, everyone has agreed, only Changsun Wuji has not spoken yet.Li Shimin asked.He quickly came back to his senses and said: "I have no objection to His Highness's method."

Li Ke glanced at Changsun Wuji, and saw a glint of coldness in his eyes. He knew that Changsun Wuji no longer underestimated his own existence and his own weakness. He had already regarded himself as his enemy.

Li Shimin said to Li Ke again: "The division of each way is so detailed, you seem to have prepared for it a long time ago."

Li Ke was taken aback and explained: "When I was thinking about how to hold the Cuju League in Datang, I came up with such an idea because the previous division was chaotic. I originally wanted to report to my father after the Chang'an city competition was over. .”

Li Shimin asked with interest: "What else do you think of? Keep talking."

Li Ke said frankly: "I believe that in the selection of officials, it is necessary to listen to the selection at all times, and make notes according to the que, which is convenient. In the past, the time for selecting officials was too short, and the space was too narrow to fully tap talents."

After hearing this, Li Shimin felt that it made sense, so he asked everyone: "What do you think, dear friends?"

This time Feng Deyi was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, the veteran thinks what His Highness said is very good, and I agree."

Xiao then said, "I also agree."

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also said: "I agree."

Wei Zheng thought for a long time, and replied: "My minister agrees with what His Highness said."

Seeing that everyone agreed with Li Ke's approach, Li Shimin was very happy for Li Ke's talent. He said to Fang Xuanling: "Shang Shuxing will come up with a detailed plan, and we will discuss it tomorrow morning."

Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said, "The minister accepts the decree."

When everyone saw Li Ke showing off again, they had different ideas. Feng Deyi and Xiao were happy, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were surprised, and Wei Zheng was surprised.